Maybe Someday, Maybe Never

So the New Year's plan was to orchestrate a series of monthly shop updates.

Each was to be developed around a theme of sorts such as Hitty goodies, doll beds, or pin toppers.

I thought this plan of action would keep me organized and focused.

Trouble was, I thought wrong.

It turned out to be a case of too many pots in the fire.

Chaos reined in my work spaces and in my head

and as a result

not one item made it into the shop

nor into the hands of some VERY patient individuals.

It's no longer a new year, but it is day one of a new month.

And for this fine month of February ahead I have developed a new plan.

It's called the 

"I'll Do What I Can Plan."

What it means is this...

I'll do what I can with what time I am afforded and only with a feeling of joy in my heart.

I want each individual stitch to be enjoyed, each paint stroke applied with peace, 

and each completed project to smile back at me.

Working under a deadline and at the expense of family, friends, and sleep 

is the perfect recipe for mishap and mayhem on the work table. 

(It also makes for one cranky mama

 and more than a few 

miserable meals...just ask the kiddos!)

Items made under an air of misfortune are not something I wish to share with others.

To do so would turn all of this into a job and not a joy. 

That would be sad.

I'll still be creating on a small scale and curating my little shop...

day by day,

stitch by stitch,

item by item,

 but always with a whole lot of happiness in the heart!

Nothing Little About This!

We're in for a monster of a storm!!!

 

While there's only and inch or so at the moment a full two feet of snow could fall before it's all said and done. In celebration of the event I thought it might be fun to host a monster of a sale over in the shop. How does a 1% discount for every inch of snow we've been predicted sound? Fun I think!!! If you agree have yourself a peek at what's available and be sure to plug in the coupon code -

BLIZZARD13

(All done as of 2-19-13

Thanks everyone for popping by!)

 

The sale will last for the duration of the storm plus any extra days the power may be out. Once we're up and running again I'll be back in touch and and headed to the post office with all your goodies.

 

Until then stay cozy!!!

  

 

Made A List and Checked It Twice

Getting ready for the shop sale tomorrow! Once the kids and hubby have cleared out and I've got a cuppa in hand I'll pop on and start making the price adjustments.

Until then....

 



Made An Announcement

One of my very favorite days is right around the corner. Can you guess what it is?

St. Nicholas Day!!!

 

In honor of this jolly old gift giver's special day we indulge ourselves in a few fun traditions. First of all we gather up some boxwood clippings to decorate the table with and bring this little fellow out of the china cupboard as our welcome guest for the month of December. After a meal by candle lite we share a pot of tea, slice into some Dundee cake, and help the kids set out their shoes by the door in hopes of finding a few trinkets dropped in by morning. Great Fun!

 

This year I'm going to add something else to the day. I had planned to participate in the whole Cyber Monday extravaganza by hosting a sale in the shop. Somewhere along the way, however, I got sidetracked and missed the event. I felt terrible but not for long because I realized I could still host a sale on another day of MY choice. And so I will come December 6th!!! I'll actually let it run for several days so everyone has a chance to peek through and perchance have a go at playing like St. Nick and stock up for some gift giving (even if it's to yourself!)

 



Made More

I decided to postpone making the Dundee Cake until tomorrow when the temp is expected to drop. We were near 70 yesterday so I imagine low 40's will feel a bit nippy and make having the oven fired most appreciated. Thus today my attention went to happy busyness in the form of packing up more clothespin goodie bags. Seems to be quite a bit of dolly making going on out there.....

HAVE FUN EVERYONE!!!

 

 

Made Some Announcements To Tie Up loose Ends

ANNOUNCEMENT # 1

Oops...I seem to have omitted a few Hitty cape details in yesterday's post! 

The capes sell for $32 each with an additional fee of $3 to ship within the states or $5.50 to ship internationally. 

(Thanks Debbie!)

 

ANNOUNCEMENT #2

Not that I even mentioned it here before but....I finally received a shipment of wooden clothespin pieces I'd been waiting for! They are the finest quality I've yet to come across and I can't wait to get some new kit assortments in the shop. There's a fair share of drilling and packaging ahead of me but I plan to have the fresh stock listed by Monday afternoon.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT #3

I'd like to have the kits up earlier than Monday but I won't be here this weekend. I'll be gallivanting about and helping out with this.....

 

The Southern NH Doll Show & Sale, sponsored by the Granite State Doll Club and the Nellie Perkins

Doll and Miniature Society,

invites you to be a part of our doll show and sale to be held on Sunday,

Oct. 21, 2012

at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, at Exit 1 off the Everett Turnpike. (Coming from the

south, be ready for the exit as soon as you cross the NH state line!)

Time:

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Admission

Adults $5 ($1 off adult admission with coupon), Under 12: $1admission:

 

 I've got my fingers crossed that I return home with a treasure or two in tow AND that you'll excuse me for skipping my Saturday post as I'm not a very techno-on-the-go type of gal!

 

Be Back Soon!!!

 

 



Made....For You?

 Who knew an eleven year old could get the croup? It certainly came as a surprise to me when Child #3 bolted up from a dead sleep struggling to get his breath. While a good spell of time outside in the chill air seemed to alleviate the worst of it, the rest of the night was spent dealing with that lovely seal bark of a croupy cough.

Needless to say we both navigated our way through the day in a sleep deprived fog. Eventually he gave in and took a nap which, in retrospect, was the smart thing to do. I took up my embroidery or should I say attempted to do so. Blurry eyes and mistaken stitches soon put an end to the attempt and forced me to downgrade my goal of completing 4 Hitty capes by tomorrow morning. I needed two for orders and wanted two for the shop since, for the most part, it remains barren of their presence. The cape orders were not a concern since they were actually completed yesterday but the shop it appears will have to wait a bit longer.

I feel bad about this because I know some of you are patiently waiting to see what pops up as "available" in the shop. But guess what? You don't have to wait if you don't want to. Let me know here (or over Etsy way) if you'd like one made up. I always attend to custom orders before I fuss with items for the shop so getting a request in will put you ahead of the game. On top of that, you get to pick the colors!!!

      

Made My Etsy "About" Page.....

.....and I nearly ripped my hair out doing it! What is it with me and computers? 

Have a look see for yourself and I'll keep my fingers crossed that the script and pictures haven't disappeared again!

LOOK SEE HERE

Made a New Section in the Shop

 Just so you know the de-stash, de-clutter, de-stroy the house project is still going on behind the scenes here. Bit by bit, however, nooks and crannies of pure simplicity and serenity are emerging and if I can manage to squeeze myself into one of them oh let me tell you it is pure bliss! So encouraged am I by this that I've become a bit of a mantra maniac spouting out things like "A place for everything and everything in it's place," or "Have nothing in your house you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful," or some other such words of wisdom I've discovered while reading those wabi sabi books of mine.

 Problem is......in the wake of these words lies a trail of discarded items which are too good for the trash, too many to keep toting off to Savers, and too risky to leave in a pile for that "someday" yard sale. But then I remembered......Etsy has a vintage section! Technically I'd never really forgotten about the old goodies they offer, at least not from a buyer's perspective, but I'd never considered selling anything in that genre before. The hardest part about committing to the process was getting over the fact that many of the items I'd be selling there as "vintage" I'd actually purchased new.  I know my kids think I'm way beyond my prime but to have my possessions validate it.....UGH! But commit I did and ordered up myself a little shop section titled "Piccalilli Past."

 

 I'd previous had at my collection of L. M. Montgomery books and displayed the keeper's here, above the sewing hutch,

 

 

and here, in one of only three under-the-bed storage boxes. The excess was.....well excessive and so I made up the first three listings from those piles. With shipping fees on books and such so much more expensive than that on a wee pincushion or petite pillow, I decided to group things in lots so as to fit as much as possible in those flat rate boxes the post office so kindly offers, hoping to give more bang for the buck by doing so! However, I can't help but feel a bit guilty.....meaning my intention is definitely not to fill your house up with my junk.....unless of course you have a place for it, find it useful, or consider it beautiful, right?!!

 Or as dear hubby said to me last week upon returning home from the used bookstore quite a bit more than empty handed, "One man's trash is another man's treasure!"

 

Made My Listings in the Shop

Since the sun decided to come out from behind the clouds today I made the time to take some pictures of the eggcups and get them listed in the shop. I never did pick a favorite and in fact I was ridiculously tormented by the process of attempting to do so! No matter which one I would have kept it would have made me think of how bad I felt about not picking one of the others. Therefore, I decided to release them all to fate. The green one has been spoken for but the other three are now in the shop.

Be free little cups!

Made a Sale

Normally this is a good thing. Today's sale, however, was the first of my fabric destash to be purchased. Why is it that I can send something I created from scratch out the door without a second thought but feel my heartstrings tug against the release of a few yards of fabric? Addiction perhaps? Sure hope this gets easier!

#15 Made a First Dent in My Stash

So about that $10 purchase I made in the quilt shop yesterday. . . . my first thought was to grab up a few "oh so sweet" fat quarters I had scoped out on the way in. I remembered, however, my stash at home and how a good portion of it had literally fallen on my head earlier that morning while I was gathering up my supplies for the meeting. In that moment of frustration I had vowed to myself "No more fabric!" And yet, there I stood in line with several bundles of it clutched in my hand.

I am proud to say I put it all back and selected instead a packet of hexagon paper pieces and some of my favorite Sulky thread. Trouble is those "oh so sweet" fat quarters have been haunting me today. The scale and colors were just perfect for some little projects I have in mind. Boy do I want that fabric and am willing to take whatever steps I need in ordeer to get it.

And so I stepped. . . . .but not out the door, into the car, and down the road to Candlelite. Instead I made my way, step by step, up to my stash closet and began to clean house. I used to enjoyed sewing crib quilts, aprons, dresses and tote bags. Although that was years ago, I found I still have the yardage to prove it. Considering small scale work I do now, holding on to more than a half yard of any print is unnecessary (and a hindrance to new purchases!)

Sorting, folding. and ironing filled my afternoon and soon the piles of fabric will be filling up the destash section of my shop. My willpower is strong for my next trip to the quilt shop WILL involve the guilt-free filling of my hands with those oh so sweet fat quarters!

SOON THEY WILL BE MINE!!!

With a Sigh of Relief.....

. . . . . I have returned to let you know all's well, ends well. My portion of the program last Saturday went off without a hitch. The women at the doll club were so friendly and welcoming it felt more of a chat session than the school time oral presentation I was having nightmares over. The Lilies were well received and had an opportunity to meet up with some very exquisite Hitties at the tea party that followed. Such fun ensued that I stayed far longer than anticipated.

Upon my eventual return home that night I promised the kids I would not put a hand to needle, thread, keyboard, or mouse for the rest of the weekend. Instead a trip to the mall, a Mexican meal, and a movie marathon had been planned. In order to make a '"sweet" contribution to our family fun, I took to the baking cupboard. Having recently gone gluten-free this is not quite as simple as it once was. Our long standing favorites are greatly missed, especially Fanny Farmer's fabulous "Lazy Daisy Cake." Digging through the ingredients on hand, however, I found I had the makings for an "Easy French Apple Pie." I also found something else...look close...closer...do you see it?

My pen! I remember now this seemed a safe place to secretly stash it while I was putting away the few groceries I had also acquired during that outing. Seemed as if happy endings were abundant. . . . the Lilies were a success, I'd found my pen, and. . . .

. . . . .the apple pie was a success! So much so in fact, only a tiny sliver remained to accompany my tea time this afternoon.

Paired up with the task of preparing tags for some new listings I was able to stretch out the moments between spoonfuls, savoring each and every bite!

Finally, with prep work behind me and tummy content it was time to turn my attention to encouraging a few more happy endings. Lily June (seen back there with her knitting) was listed in the shop in hopes of finding her very own home sweet home. Hollie Belle will soon follow in her heals as she too looks for her happily ever after!

Shop's Open.....

. . . . . and I'm celebrating the event throughout the entire month of September. If interested pop on over to my wee little nook of Etsy for a look see at some of the new goodies. In addition to the daily listings of these items I've also planned a few extra fun surprises along the way.

September 6th marks my two year anniversary at Etsy! In honor of the occasion I'll be re-posting some of my pieces from those early days. . . . . only this time at reduced SALE prices.

September 16th is my birthday! Yipee for me!!! Especially exciting is the fact that Lily Red has offered to take over the shop for the day in order to gift me with a holiday break. Rumor has it she's got something special to share with you as well!

September 26th brings with it the return of the Pick-a-Lilies! They have been enjoying an extended summer break around and about, picking up some new friends along the way. It sure will be good to see their little faces in the sewing nook once again.

As before, Friday Finds will be posted weekly. Thursdays, however, may prove to be more exciting for on those days I will reveal a "Newfangled Notion" or some other such needful thing never before seen in the shop!

ENJOY!!!

Summer Stitching

As you may or may not have noticed from the sidebar I've decided to put my little Etsy shop on summer holiday. As a family we've dedicated the month of August to finally cleaning out our dungeon of a basement in hopes of creating a finished room down there for the kids. While I'll admit it's no small task (think Hoarders) we won't forget to throw in some fair weather fun as well. This, however, does not mean I intend to abandon my sewing nook. Instead I'm excited to use this time to work on some new projects and build up a bit of stock for a "Grand Re-Opening Celebration" come September when school starts up again.

The patchwork pincushion above is one such project. Do you recognize the fabrics from my pantry skirt? I loved working with them so much I put the scraps to good use! All that's left is to finish off the crochet picot trim and then I'll try some more cushions in different color schemes. Maybe something a little more cheery? I'm also debating trying out a bit of hand quilting across the patchwork tops . . . . . hmmm. . . . .could that be because. . . . .


. . . . .I've had such a good time quilting this! Unfortunately I can only show you this little snippet of the piece as it's currently en route to Karen from Humble Needle for our 2nd annual miniature quilt exchange. And since I imagine she might pop in here for a visit I want to keep it a surprise. I figure a little peek is ok, especially since she gave me this hint oh so long ago. I haven't the foggiest idea what to expect but I can't wait to see it!

Out with the New Agenda!

This is me. The me that still had her milk teeth and had yet to create even one agenda. Both of which I wish were still true! Let me say that the excitement of losing one's baby teeth is definitely NOT repeated when one must part with a permanent tooth as an adult. For one thing, the tooth fairy does not visit you and leave shiny coins under your pillow! Instead you practically move into your dentist's office and contribute abundantly to his coffer. And as for those agendas. . . . . all the comfort and confidence I had acquired by following my carefully scripted plan for the months leading up to Christmas took a dramatic nosedive in direct proportion to my escalating dental dilemma. It seemed I had set myself up for failure and yet another hassle filled holiday season. How was I ever going to complete everything on all those lists I had made? The answer was actually quite simple, I wasn't. And so I tossed them out. . . . .

. . . . .it felt really good! Which lead me to go upstairs and begin throwing out a bunch of other clutter and in the process look what I found. It's the skirt from my picture, made for me by my grandmother many, many years ago. She used to get these little square fabric samples in the mail that she saved for me to play with when I was at her house. By the time I was five the collection was large enough for her to compile it into a patchwork skirt for me to wear on my birthday. I felt like a princess in it. It's been with me ever since, popping up from time to time in the various attics of homes I've lived in. With a "use it or lose it" frame of mind I decided to put some creative inspiration into this most recent discovery and. . . . .

. . . . .VOILA! A new sewing machine cover! My featherweight has been in dire need of a cover for ages, in fact, I'm positive the task to create one has been on more than one list or another of mine. And here, with nothing more than a simple ribbon tied up near the waist band the job is done.

If you want to see what else is done you'll have to peek around the corner into my bedroom. . . . .

. . . .where I've staked a claimed and created an extension of the sewing nook. I've decided to call this new area my "cozy corner." Not to say I've cheated dear hubby out of his fair share. He's got an equal portion of space on the other side for his treasures. I affectionately refer to his area as the "black hole" which should give some indication as to why you won't see a picture of it here.

And yes. . . . I did finally reclaim the bottom portion of the bookshelf and made a hefty donation to our library's book sale in the process.

Hubby's old computer cabinet has become the perfect spot to store a whole assortment of craft supplies. It's neat enough now, but great to know those doors can be closed to conceal any piles that do develop over time!

A doll's hutch discarded by my daughter was destined for the attic but, having cleared some piles from atop the file cabinet, I found a much happier role for it as storage for all the little Lilies in progress.

I had intended to carry my organizing frenzy over into other areas of the house in preparation of holiday decorating, but sans agenda I'm now free of such restraints. It doesn't mean I'm always happy about it. I do wish I'd gotten my dining room painted, I feel bad about the lack of attention I've given to stocking my Esty shop with Christmas items, and I hope you'll forgive me for not getting to the 3rd giveaway I had said I would hold this year. Painting has been limited to the Lilies, Etsy listings are for reserved custom orders only, and the only giving in the works involves Christmas presents. . . . .

. . . .with one exception. . . . .Lily Olive. She was made up in a batch of Lilies but not selected for purchase. Planning to put her in the shop for Christmas I added the finishing touches. In doing so, however, I found I couldn't bear to part with her and so I decided give her to myself!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder.....or so I hope!!!

I knew it had been awhile since I last posted a blog entry but the reality of the situation truly hit home when I began uploading my photos. Some serious image editing was required, and even with that, prepare yourself. . . this might take awhile!

Apparently, I've not only been playing hooky here at Piccalilli Days, but also in the garden. I was shocked to discover how much greenery has popped up out there. . . .the dandelions, chickweed, and ragweed are thriving! But so too are my chives! Our original clipping came from a dear neighbor the very first year we moved in. In the ten years since we have split our mound many times over creating numerous plantings in our yard and the yards any neighbors or friends willing to adopt some. It does have a bit of a garlic odor when you clip it but tastes delicious on cottage cheese or in omelets.

Another staple in our summer menu is basil. Every year I buy a small pack like this at Market Basket, our local grocery store, for a mere $1.79! It's got six small plants in it but by the end of the summer they're practically bushes, which is a good thing considering how much of it we eat.

This I found a bit unusual. . . . clusters of morning glory seedlings come up every year in all the spots where seeds from last season's blooms spilled to the ground. This is the first time ever, however, that I've seen them munched on like this. The one patch by our patio seems to be quite popular with an entire fleet of some strange sparkle beetle bug. I suppose I should do something about it although I'm a bit hesitant. . . . to tell the truth I think the little bugs are quite beautiful and what I would imagine one would get if you crossed a ladybug with a fairy.

Lawns must be a man thing. . . . to me, if I can mow it down and it looks green at a distance it's all good. My husband, however, is always in the process of fertilizing, dethatching, seeding and reseeding and of course stressing over a wee bit of clover here and there. He was in one such debate with himself recently concerning what course of action to take against it when our youngest hatched a "Save the Clover" campaign. His logic being not ecologically friendly but rather that you might find a four leaf clover in there! And guess what. . . .

. . . .he did! What luck! So with dad's help they pressed it flat, let it dry, and framed it. It now resides in the boys' room where I imagine little clover fairies make their pilgrimages and give praise for their salvation from any number of lawn treatment plans out there.

Speaking of luck. . . . have you seen one of these yet? It is a Lucky Penny Book made by my lovely friend Maggie. She sells them in her Sweet Scarlett shop on Etsy and in a real storefront shop in England too. This one came as a surprise treat in my mailbox along with a glorious bag of Typhoo tea, of which I am partaking a cup right now!

Yes, that is a real antique, out of circulation Queen Victoria penny you see there! On the flip side, however, I had my doubts about the whole "Natalie Jo the Genius" claim.

But then I read the quote contained within which made me think that just perhaps. . . . oh never mind, my eldest has informed me I have no less than sixteen spelling errors and two serious grammar faux pas thus far and I'm not even half way through (I told you it might take awhile!)

The mail has actually been very good to me recently. Let me introduce you to our new arrival, Miss Prim. She is the creation of another sweet friend Bekah, who recently began sharing her talents through her Etsy shop, Full of Bliss. I was lucky enough to catch her on opening day and snap up this little beauty. Ever so cute, and with a green gingham base to boot I didn't imagine it could get better until I saw. . . .

. . . . her delightful parasol! As lovely as it may seem here, please be sure to visit her blog for some truly amazing photos. Mine just do not give it justice!

I must confess I am not the only Full of Bliss fan around here. Miss Lily Red caught wind of some Easter Bonnets by Bekah's hand last month and has been green with envy ever since. Imagine her surprise to find a wee package for her tucked in snugly along with Miss Prim. Dare she hope? Could it be? Quick as a wink Lucy put scissor to twine and all was revealed!

It was. . . . the hat of her dreams!!! And a perfect fit at that.

So filled with emotion, the poor dear was rendered speechless. Thank goodness for the written word!

Etsy is great not only for the handmade items but also for vintage treasures and wonderful supplies. Mattie Cakes was actually the first seller I ever purchased from. I love her seam binding and all the little added touches she makes to the packaging. I needed to replenish my supply of lavender for a special order I had and decided to treat myself to a few extra selections at the same time.

I've really no excuse as to my extended absence here at Piccalilli Days. Maybe it was all those TV finales I just had to watch . . . . Lost, Survivor, Hell's Kitchen, American Idol . . . some of them a whopping three hour long broadcast! And if it wasn't that it was our pile of Vicar of Dibly DVD's recently arrived from Netflix. Yes from John Adams to Geraldine my husband and I are addicted. It's not been all play and no work, however, as I've had some custum orders to fill as well. Here are all the little bits and pieces that went into making. . . .

. . . . a special May Belle for a secret sweet someone.

She was a delight to have around but her visit was short as she had places to go and people to meet. A few of the girls popped in to wish her luck on her new adventure.

And so off to the post office we went. Yes I know, not the most exciting of pictures, but what's inside the white envelope is, for contained within is my half of a Doll Quilt Swap I participated in with Humble Needle. Once the swap is complete I'll share everything, but until then. . . .

. . . . my plate is clean. Well sort of. A recent purchase at the quilt shop filled the last of my tally card making me eligible for $25 worth of fabric for FREE!!! After careful consideration (another hour roaming the bolts!) I decided to be daring. I have always loved Kaffe Fassett's books and fabrics but have never actually worked with them. The prints are a bit bigger and bolder than I usually feel comfortable with but the colors were just too pretty. And so here they are, as they sit on my ironing board, wondering whatever is to become of them. . . . Oh Miss Maggie, I do hope you were right!